Successful Interactions
Write a successful interaction for this goal:
"Alex will communicate his wants/needs appropriately throughout his day"
Alex successfully communicated his wants and needs appropriately throughout the interaction. He independently expressed his preferences and needs using appropriate communication and required minimal prompting.
Danny Federico — Counting Change
Category: Unsuccessful Goal Notes — Independent Living
What is an objective way to document Danny's unsuccessful interaction?
Danny attempts to count change after making a purchase but is unable to accurately determine the amount. Staff provide verbal prompts and assistance, but Danny requires continued support to complete the task.
Stephen Gessner
Scenario: Stephen bought a drink and independently counted out the correct amount of money.
Is this a Goal Note or Data Entry?
Goal Note! — It directly relates to Stephen’s money-management goal.
Deanna Powers
Scenario: During a community outing, Deanna became upset and said, “I hate this music!” She used profanity several times but remained with the group and did not threaten or harm anyone.
Incident Report or Regular Note?
Regular Note — Document the communication/perseveration and how staff redirected her.
Deanna Powers
Scenario: You hear Deanna tells staff, “I don't like when you tell me what to do.” She is frustrated but does not describe anyone hurting, threatening, neglecting, or taking advantage of her.
DPPC or No DPPC?
No DPPC based on these facts — This is a routine expression of frustration, not an allegation of abuse or neglect.
Write a successful interaction for this goal:
Deanna will gain the ability to talk about other subjects other than perseverating on negative music, swearing and other dislikes.
Deanna successfully engaged in conversation about a variety of topics without perseverating on negative music, swearing, or other dislikes. She remained engaged, appropriately responded to conversation, and was receptive to redirection when needed.
Stephen Gessner — Money Management
Category: Unsuccessful Goal Notes — Money Skills
What is an appropriate unsuccessful interaction note for Stephen's money-management goal?
Stephen is purchasing an item and is unable to identify the correct amount of money needed. Staff provide multiple prompts, but Stephen continues to have difficulty identifying the value of the bills and coins.
Steven Cabral
Scenario: Steven transitioned from the community center to the van without difficulty.
Is this a Goal Note or Data Entry?
Goal Note! — The transition directly relates to Steven’s goal.
Joey Langis
Scenario: Joey interrupted a peer three times during a conversation. The peer became annoyed and walked away. Joey accepted staff redirection and continued the activity.
Incident Report or Regular Note?
Regular Note — The behavior is relevant to Joey’s conversation-etiquette goal. The peer walking away alone does not automatically make this an incident report.
Kevin Prior
Scenario: Kevin tells staff that another person took his $5 without asking. Staff cannot immediately determine what happened.
DPPC or No DPPC?
Potential DPPC report — A report that someone's money was taken may raise concerns about financial exploitation, depending on the circumstances.
Staff should follow required reporting procedures rather than dismissing it because the amount is small.
Is this a good goal note for this goal objective:
Anthony will utilize coping skills and advocate for himself when dealing with anxiety at the program and in the community.
"Anthony independently advocated for himself at the YMCA by saying he wanted to do the treadmill."
No, it is not specified if his anxiety is the reason he advocated, therefore he just advocated.
Steven Cabral — Transitions
Category: Unsuccessful Goal Notes — Personal Growth
What is an appropriate unsuccessful goal note for Steven's transition goal?
Steven had difficulty transitioning from one program activity to another. He required repeated verbal prompts and staff support before transitioning to the next activity.
Danny Federico
Scenario: Danny walked into a store with staff and looked at several items.
Is this a Goal Note or Data Entry?
Data Entry! — Simply being in the store does not demonstrate his goal of identifying money values or counting change.
John Januskis
Scenario: John repeatedly interrupted another person during a conversation. The other person told John to stop, and John became frustrated and pushed a chair across the room. No one was injured.
Incident Report or Regular Note?
Potential Incident Report — The key detail is the escalation to physical/aggressive behavior and potential safety concern, not simply the interruptions.
Joey Langis
Scenario: Joey tells staff, “Staff yelled at me yesterday.” When asked what happened, Joey explains that staff raised their voice because Joey was about to walk into traffic.
DPPC or No DPPC?
No DPPC based on these facts — The additional context indicates staff were responding to an immediate safety concern, rather than the statement alone establishing abuse.
T/F
"I can do a positive and negative goal note in the same day"
True!
You can document both a positive and negative goal note on the same day in CBDS if both accurately reflect what occurred during the day. The notes should be objective and based on the person's actual performance.
Ian Lewis — Self-Advocacy
Category: Unsuccessful Goal Notes — Communication
What is an objective way to document Ian's unsuccessful interaction?
Ian was unable to independently communicate his wants or needs during the interaction. Staff provided prompts and offered choices, but Ian continued to require assistance expressing what he wanted.
Anthony Fasano
Scenario: Anthony became anxious in a crowded store and independently used a coping strategy before continuing shopping.
Is this a Goal Note or Data Entry?
Goal Note — He demonstrated use of a coping skill in the community, directly addressing his goal.
Jen Wells
Scenario: Jenn was organizing her belongings while at a community location. She became upset when staff reminded her to put her items away, threw her bag onto the floor, and accidentally struck another person with it. Staff intervened and the person reported being hurt.
Incident Report — The interaction went beyond Jenn’s organization goal and involved another person being struck and reporting an injury. Staff should follow the applicable DDS and agency incident-reporting procedures.
John Januskis
Scenario: John tells staff that another person at the program “keeps touching me.” He cannot clearly explain exactly what happened, and staff did not witness anything.
DPPC or No DPPC?
Potential DPPC report — An allegation of unwanted physical contact should be taken seriously and handled according to mandated reporting and agency procedures.
Lack of witnesses does not automatically mean there is nothing to report.
Write a successful interaction for this goal:
"Jenn will develop her independent living skills, focusing on organization."
Jenn successfully worked on her organization skills during the interaction. She organized her personal items and maintained an orderly space with minimal prompting and support.
Anthony Fasano — Coping & Advocacy
Category: Unsuccessful Goal Notes — Social Development
What is an appropriate unsuccessful interaction note for Anthony's goal?
Anthony became anxious during the interaction and had difficulty independently using coping strategies or advocating for his needs. Staff provided verbal prompts and support to help him identify and use an appropriate coping strategy.
Ian told staff he wanted to go to the park.
Is this a Goal Note or Data Entry?
Goal Note! — Ian independently communicated a want, which directly addresses his self-advocacy goal.
Connor Burrill
Scenario: During a community outing, Connor was having a conversation with a peer when the peer suddenly became upset and walked away. Connor followed and attempted to continue the conversation. Staff redirected Connor back to the group. Later, the peer told staff that Connor had made unwanted physical contact while trying to get his attention.
Incident Report or Regular Note?
Incident Report — The key detail is the reported unwanted physical contact. Even though Connor is typically gentle and there was no apparent injury, the event should be reviewed under the applicable DDS and agency incident-reporting procedures.
Jenn Wells
Scenario: Jenn tells staff that her roommate sometimes takes her belongings without asking. Jenn says she doesn't feel unsafe but wants help getting her things back.
Question: DPPC or No DPPC?
Potential DPPC report/review — The concern involves another person allegedly taking Jenn's property. Staff should not simply treat it as an organization issue; they should follow agency procedures for determining whether the circumstances constitute reportable exploitation or another concern.